Apparatus for printing lithographically.



J. A J. HAYES.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING LITHOGRAPHICALLY.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 23, I912.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS*SHE ET I.

INVENTOR 1&

914m ATTORN EYS J. A. J. HAYES.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING LITHOGRAPHICALLY. APPLICATlON FILED NOV-23,1912 1 ,176,54;9, Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w us 111" 0 q INVENTOR m NESSES %S ATTORNEYS I. A. I. HAYES. APPARATUS FOR PRINTING LITHOGRAPHICALLY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 23,1912.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY JOHN A. J. H AYES, OF LETCHWORTH, ENGLAND,

AssIGNoR T HAYES (UNIVERSAL) PRINTING MACHINERY LIMITED, 01 LETCHWORTH. ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING LITHOGRAPHICALLY Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21', 1916.

Application filed November 23, 1912. Serial No. 733,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ARTHUR J EFFER- sox HAYns, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at \Vorks Road, Letchworth, in the county of Hertford, England, have invented a certain new ,and useful Improved Apparatus forPrinting Lithographically, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toimprovements in connection witlrlithographic printing and has for its object to devise apparatus capable of printing lithographically upon long continuous strips or webs of fabric, metal,

paper, linoleum, or other material to which it may be desired to impart lithographic designs.

The necessity for the correct fulfilment of known conditions in lithographic printing has hitherto prevented any successful solution of the problem of printing continuous 1 designs lithographically upon continuous strips or webs of material and where such printing has been required as in the case, for example, of calico printing it has been necessary to employ copper engraved or wooden cylinders using anilin or allied inks as the printing medium. Printing with anilin colors is, however, exceedingly costly owing partly to the expensive nature of the design cylinders required and the necessity for keeping a large number of them properly engraved in stock when repeat orders are. likely to be received, partly to the employment of a number of subsidiary processes to prepare the fabric to receive the color and to-fix the colors after printing, and partly also to the fact that even with the aid of these processes the colors can only be rendered moderately fast except by a still greater expenditure which is rarely justified.

On certain materials it is diflicult to print at all by machinery with anilin and for these recourse must be had to block printing which is done by hand. In contradistinction to the above. it is known that the oil colors employed in lithographic printing when correctly mixed and applied are much' more suitable or the printing of textiles of every description in that they have a natural poses, each color must be affinity for the fabric and require none of the artificial aids to fix them such as have to be employed with anilin printing. Moreover, most lithographic colors are fast to light which anilin colors are not), are-for the most partas fast to washing as the best anilin, are more hygienic, will even act as a preservative of the fabric and admit of far more artistic treatment than anilin colors.

' The aluminium, zinc, or coated rollers used for printing lithographically are much cheaper to provide than the copper rollers required with the anilin process. There is no necessity to keep the designs on them for lengthy periods. They can be easily and very rapidly cleaned and can be used again immediately for fresh designs and will last almost indefinitely. When a repeat order is received the designs required can be instantly re-transferred to the rollers from a small key-plate kept for the purpose. It is therefore obvious that if ameans can be found to print uninterrupted or other de signs continuously upon cotton' or other fabrics or material and in one or more colors as may be required in a single operation the resultant advantages must be very considerable.

Present day lithographic printing machines are of two kinds, viz: flat beds and rotaries and in both cases the designs to be printed can only be detached or intermittent and cannot be continuous assuming that the paper or other material receiving the impression were taken from the reel and passed continuously through the machine in stead of being cut'i'nto sheets as is now done.

Moreover, for practical commercial pur- Y printed separately and time must be allowed for one color to dry before the next islaid on. The design bearing plate which is employed with the rotary type of machine occupies only a relatively small portion of the periphery of the cylinder so that in consequence with each complete revolution the impression delivered is only a portion of what it would be if the design plate continued without interruption around the whole periphery of the cylinder.

Many other difficulties and causes of delay and restricted production are encountered which need not be specifically mentioned here.

The object of the present invention is to provide a formof apparatus which shall enable uninterrupted lithographic printing upon continuous lengths of fabric or other material to be carried out so that by means of my invention I combine the advantages of continuous production and simultaneous multi-color printing obtainable with processes using copper engraved or wooden cylinders with the further advantage resulting from the use of lithographic colors while at the same time avoiding the. great expense and other limitations of existing methods both in the lithographic and in the anilin printing industries.

The invention consists in apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more-design cylin-' ders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface and color apparatus for each design cylinder arranged inv such a manner that the lines of contact between the impression cylinder, design cylinder and ,toucher are-in the same or approximately the same horizontal plane and means for setting these various parts in motion before they are put into contact with one another.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the inventlon applied to two-color machine, and

Fig. 2 is a plan'of half of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view of Fig. 1 illustrating the invention as applied to a four-color 'machine. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a form of machine constructed in accordance with the.

convenient manner as illustrated, for.exam-' ple, in Figs. 1 and 2 any suitable form of frameworkor foundation a is employed upon which is mounted the bowl 'or impression cylinder b around which the fabric or other material a to be printed 'upon is adapted to pass, suitable gearing-d 6 being provided for imparting the necessary motion of rotation to the impression cylinder b and being driven by any suitable form of motor or prime mover, it being understood that this driving mechanism is'illustratedby way of example only and may be varied in many ways as maybe found-most desirable.

To insure success in the printing of uninterrupted lithographic designs upon continuous lengths of material'it is essential that the machine should be started 'with the impression cylinder, design cylinders and color apparatus out of contact with one another and having been brought'into contact for the purpose of printing they are preferably moved out of contact with one another before the machine is stopped. Further, to secure constructed.

for such a series of operations I may em ploy slides, frames, or trays such as are described in the specification to British Patent No. 9365 of 1907 although the invention is not limited to such arrangements as any suitable form of'apparatus may be employed for this purpose.

In the example illustrated the design cylinder f with its continuous unbroken lithographic surface is mounted upon a slide or frame 9 adapted to move in guides on the mam framework a of the machine and upon which a second frameor tray h is adapted to slide, the latter carrying the color apparatus which may be. of any suitable form and which in the example illustrated comprises a series of color rollers z and distributers Is, the latter being adapted to have an endwise motion in addition to their motion of rotation. trough Z ispicked'up by the color rollers and evenly distributed by means of the distribu ters and it is transferred when required to the design cylinder f by a roller or rollers m conveniently termed f the toucher. By the improved arrangement I amenabled to employ only one or two touchers to/ supply the requisite quantity of color to each design cylinder instead of the large number The color which is contained in a of such devices hitherto necessary owing to the light pressure between the-touchers and the design cylinder in machines as hitherto The color roller s indies are optionally provided with toothe the toothed pinion 0 upon the design cylinder spindle, the latter being also adapted to gear with the spur wheel (l upon the spindle of the impression cylinder.

The various gears are so proportioned that the peripheral speeds of the various rollers and cylinderslconcerned are approximately equal, The gear wheels are also so formed and their teeth are of such a form and size that they may be dapted to engage onean other so as to be capable of all being set in rotary motion when the machine is driven by the application of any suitable external power while at the same time the impression cylinder, designcylinder and ,toucher are all out of contact with one another, as shown in Fig. 3, the distance between the printing roller and impression cylinder being suitably proportioned to suit the thickness and napinions n 7 adapted to gear with 'one another and with proved machine for the purpose of imparting the necessary moisture to the design cylinders, care being taken that the damping apparatus is so positioned that moisture is evenly and sufficiently applied to the design cylinders before the latter are inked.

As it is extremely important in a rocess of printing continuously lithograp ically that the whole surface of each design cylinder should be thoroughly and uniformly damp during the whole time that it is printing I prefer to employ damping apparatus comprising two or more damping rollers p slidably mounted inany convenient manner so that they may be moved into or out of contact with the design cylinder care being always taken that the damping rollers are not allowed to remain in contact withthe design cylinder when the latter is stationary as otherwise the designcylinder would have a tendency to become oxidized and would thus become spoiled for efficient lithographic printing. The damping rollers p are conveniently formed by winding upon the central mandrels a sufficient thickness of some absorbent fabric such as cotton which is previouslv passed through water or otherwise thoroughly moistened, the fabric being wound evenly upon the mandrel and having the superfluous moisture squeezed therefrom by means of rollers or in any other convenient manner. I have found that damping rollers constructed in this manner retain sufficient moisture to enable them to operate successfully for long periods. The arrangement thus obviates the continual moistening of the damping rollers while the machine is in motion or the provision of a reservoir from which water may be continuously fed to the damping rollers which latter arrangements have always been hitherto adopted in .connection with lithographic printing and -which, particularly in the case of multicolor printing machines, would be extremely inconvenient in ractice owing to the difficulty of finding space in such machines.

In the case of multi-color machines the various parts above referred to may be multiplied as required and be arranged at opposite ends of the machine or superposed above one another or otherwise suitably arranged as desired. In all cases, however, on account of the nature of the apparatus em loyed and of the operations to be effect cl it is necessary to arrange the movable slides or the like horizontally or approximately e0,'th8 lines of contact between the impression cylinder,

design cylinder and toucher being also horizontal or nearly so. \Vith such an arrangement the weight of the apparatus has no retarding or accelerating effect on the various mo\ ements required and it is possible to effect these movements smoothly and without shock or jar.

My process of printing is readily applicable to a single color or to multi-color lithographic printin machines and in the latter case I arrange he color apparatus and design cylinders in tiers, the impression cylinder being made of a suitable diameter to accommodate all the sets of printing apparatus, and I have found in practice that it is necessary that the design cylinder should not make contact with the impression cylinder outside a certain angle on either side of the horizontal center line of the impression cylinder, the particular limiting angle being determined by experience.

Any convenient means may be adopted for bringing the impression cylinder, design cylinder and toucher into'or out of contact with one another as required after the machine has been started and these parts are all rotating but it is important to remember that for a successful process these operations whether in a single or in a multi-color machine should be capable of being carried out rapidly by a single operator and in a single operation. One convenient form of apparatus for enabling this desirable result to be obtained consists, where both ends of the machine are utilized as is the case with a multi-color machine, in a double or bifurcated arm 9 t0 the ends of which are attached bell crank levers 1", the other limb of which is connected by means of links or the like a t with the frames or trays g h respectively. The lower end of the forked arm 9 is attached to a lever 21 pivoted at v and provided ers, design cylinder, and impression cylinder shall be brought into contact with one another in the preferred sequence, that is, the toucher in contact with the design cylinder and the design cylinder in contact with the impression cylinder. It will be seen that this sequence of operations may be accomplished by a single movement of the lever u and when the machine has been correctly adjusted to perform the operations in the required sequence any suitable mark may be made upon the quadrant 10 if desired so that the operator may know exactly how far the lever is to be moved to give the desired result and to give the correct contact pressures between the various rollers as it will be understood that the contact pressure maybe varied depending upon the nature of the material to be printed and upon other practical conditions.

To insure accurate moving of the frames or trays I prefer'to provide adjusting mechanism on each side of the machine as shown in plan, the spindle o to which the handlevcr u is attached being carried across the machine and having a short link a; at each end to which is connected the lower end of each forked arm My invention is equally applicable to a single color or to a multi-color lithographic printing machine and Fig. 3 illustrates a four-color printing machine with my invention applied thereto, portions of the machine being'shown diagrammatically.

The machine is similar to that fully described above and the various operations are in every way identical, the number of color apparatus, slides and trays and design cylinders with their attendant apparatus being varied to suit the number of colors in which it is desired that the machine shall becapable of simultaneously printing and the impression cylinder ismade somewhat larger so that the machine may be accommodatedto the increased number of design cylinders and devices in connection therewith.

A somewhat different form of adjusting mechanism for the trays or frames is illustrated, and it may be noted that this form of adjusting mechanism is equally applicableto the machine illustratedin Fig. 1 and vice versa. stead of being connected to a pair oflinks as in the case above described are connected -to a single link 2 which mayor may not be itself adjustable and which is connected to a bracket 1 attached to the frame carrying the colorapparatus and adapted to slide upon a guide 2 fixed to the frame carrying the design cvlinder, the arrangement being such that upon depression of the forked arm g the frames carrying the color apparatus are first moved so that the toucher comes into contact with the design cylinder and further movement of'the arm 9 causes both frames to be moved until the design cylinder comes into contact with the impression cylinder. Care must be taken in the case of the multi-color machine that theadjustments of the locking mechanism for the various frames or trays are so made that the various colors in which it is desired to print shall be transferred to thefabric or other material to be printed in their correct order of rotation. As the machine is of a heavier type than that described in Fig. 1 it may be convenient to adopt difi'erent means for operating the locking mechanism and this in one suitable form may consist of a spur wheel 3 adapted to gear with a quadrant arm 4 rigidly secured to a shaft 5 passing across the machine and carrying at each end a short link '6 to which the lower ends of the forked arm (7 are attached, the spur wheel 3 being operated by medns of a hand-wheel or The bell crank levers inother convenient device -7 in connection with which a notched or toothed quadrant or seetor may be employed so that the hand-wheel 7 may be held in any desired position.

It will thus be seen that by means of my invention I am enabled to impart continuous unbroken and uninterrupted lithographic designs to continuous lengths of fabric, paper, or other material which it may be desired to print thus combining the advantages of continuous production and simultaneous multi .color printing obtained by the ordinary calico printing machines as hitherto adopted with the advantages of simplicity and cheapness, soft and artistic effects and fast colors obtained from lithographic printing, and while the invention is particularly applicable to the printing of continuous designs it may equally be applied to the printing of an intermittently recurring design upon a longv strip of.material. The design cylinder in this case While still retaining the unbroken continuous lithographically prepared surface only having the lithographic design drawn thereon over a por' tion of its periphery. In the case of such intermittently recurring designs or in other cases it may be desired to separate the printed material coming from the machine into separatesheets or strips and for this pur pose any convenient form of automatic cutting apparatus may be employed in conjunction with the machine so that the separate printed sheets or strips may delivered.

therefrom.

I do not desire to confine my invention to the details of construction hereinbefore defor printing in one or more colors as desired, the formand arrangement of the color apparatus, the details of the mechanismfor securing the sequence of movement of the color apparatus and the design tubes or cylinders and the method of applying the necessary moisture to the design cylinders all being capable of variation in many ways to suit the type of machine to which my invention is to be applied and the purpose for which it is to be employed.

Having now described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each havin an unbroken co-ntinuous lithographic sur ace and.

color apparatus for each design cylinder arranged in such a. manner thatthe move-.

ment necessary for bringing the color apparatus into contact with the design. cylinder and the latter into contact with the material passing around the im ression cylinder is horizontalor substantially so and means for setting these various parts in roiii tary motion so that each color applying roll with'the corresponding design cylinder and the impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed befo e they are put into contact With one another.

2. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface and color apparatus comprising one toucher for each design cylinder arranged in such a manner that the movement necessary for bringing the toucher into contact with the design cylinder and the latter into contact with the material passing around the impression cylinder is horizontal or substantially so, and means for setting these various parts in rotary motion so that the toucher, de-

sign cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before they are put into contact with one another.

3.'Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous ,lithographic surface and color apparatus comprising two touch: ers for each design cylinder arranged in such a manner that the movement necessary for bringing the touchers into contact with the design cylinder and the latter intocontact with the material passing around the impression cylinder is horizontal or substantially so, and means for setting these various parts in rotary motion so that the touchers, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or'approximately at the same peripheral speed before they are put into contact with one another.

4. Apparatus for printing lithographicall y comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface and color apparatus for each design cylinder arranged in such a manner that the movement necessary for bringing the color apparatus into contact with the design cylinder and the latter into contact with the material passing around the impression cylinder is horizontal or substantially so, and a single operating member for bringing these various parts into contact only after they have been set in rotary motion so that the color applying roll with the corresponding design cylinder and the impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed.

5. Apparatus for printing lithographicall y comprising an impression cylinder, one or m re design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface and color apparatus comprising a single toucher for (:n'li design cylinder arranged in such a manner that the movement necessary for bringing the toucherinto contact with the design cylinder and the latter into contact with the material passing around the impression cylinder is horizontal or substantially so that a single operating member for bringing these various parts into contact only after they have been set in rotary motion so that the toucher, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed.

6. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface and color apparatus comprising two touchers for each design cylinder arranged in such a manner that the movement necessary for bringing the toucher into contact With the design cylinder and the latter into contact with the material passing around the impression cylinder is horizontal or substantially so, and a single operating member for bringing these various parts into contact only after they have been set in rotary motion so that the touchers, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed.

7. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, color apparatus for each design cylinder, intermeshing toothed gear Wheels for these various parts such that they may be set in, rotary motion so that the color applying roll With the corresponding design cylinder and the impression cylinder rota e at or approximately at the same peripheral .speed before being brought into contact with one another, and means for bringing the various parts into contact horizontally or substantially so.

8. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder. one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface. color apparatus for each design cylinder, interineshing toothed gear wheels for these various parts such that they may be set in rotary motion so that the color applying roll with the corresponding design cylinder and the impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being brought into contact with one another, and a single operating member for bringing the various parts into contact horizontally or substantially so.

9. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, color apparatus comprising two touchers for each design cylinder, inter-meshing toothed gear for these various parts such that they may be set in rotary motion so that the touchers, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being put into contact with one another, and means for subsequently bringing the various parts into contact in such a manner that the movement necessary for the bringing into contact is horizontal or substantially so.

10. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, color apparatus'coinprising a single toucher for each design cylinder, intermeshing toothed gear for these various parts such that they may be set in rotary motion so that the toucher, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being put into contact with one another, and means for subsequently bringing the various parts into contact in such a manner-that the movement necessary for the bringing into contact is horizontal or substantially so.

11. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, one

or more design cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, color apparatus comprising a single toucher for each design cylinder, intermeshing toothed gear for these various parts such that they may be set in rotary motion so that the toucher, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being put intocontact with one another, and a single operating member for subsequently bringing the various parts into contact in sucha manner that the movement necessary for the bringing into contact is horizontal or substantially so.

12. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder one \or more designcylinders, each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, color apparatus comprising two touchers for each design cylinder intermeshing toothed gears for these various parts such that they may be set in rotary motion so that the touchers, design cylinder and impression; cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being put into contact with one another, and a single operating member for subsequently bringing the various parts into contact in such a manner that the movement necessary for the bringing into contact is horizontal or substantially so. A

13. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, a framework supporting said impression cylinder, a design cylinder or cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, a frame slidable horizontally upon the main framework and supporting the design cylinder, color apparatus for each ous parts into contact and means for setting the various parts in rotary motion so that the color applyin" roll, design cylinder and impression cylin er rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed beforethey are brought into contact with one another.

14- Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, a framework supporting said impression cylinder, a design cylinder or cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, a frame slidable horizontally upon the main framework and supporting the design cylinder, color apparatus for each design cylinder, an auxiliary frame carrying the color apparatus and slidable horizontally upon the frame supporting the design cylinder, a ,single operating member for bringing said parts into contact with one another'and means for setting said parts in rotary motion so that the color applying roll, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before they are brought into contact with one another.

15. Apparatus for printing lithographi- 'that the color applying roll, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same. peripheral speed before being brought into contact, and means for bringing the various parts into contact.

16. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, a framework supporting said impression cylinder, a design cylinder or cylinders each having an unbroken continuouslithographic surface, a frame slidable horizontally upon the main framework and supporting the design cylinder, color apparatus for each design cylinder, an auxiliary frame carrying the color apparatus and slidable horizontally upon the frame supporting the design cylinder, intermeshing toothed gear wheels for the impression cylinder, design cylinder and color apparatus such'that these parts may be set in rotary motion so that the color applying'roll, design cylinder and'impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being brought into contact, and a single operating member for bringing the various parts into contact.

17. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, a framework supporting said impression cylinder, a design'cylinder or cylinders each having an unbroken continuous lithographic surface, a frame slidable horizontally upon the main framework and supporting the design cylinder, color apparatus for each design cylinder, an auxiliary frame carrying the color apparatus and slidable horizontally upon the frame supporting the design cylinder. intermeshing toothed gear wheels for the impression cylinder, design cylinder and color apparatus such that these parts may be set in rotary motion so that the color applying roll, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed before being brought into contact, means for bringing the various parts into contact and means for locking the various parts in their operative positions.

18. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising a framework, an impression cylinder mounted upon said framework, an auxiliary frame slidable horizontally upon the framework and carrving a design cylinder, a. second frame slidable horizontally upon the auxiliary frame and carrying the color apparatus, intermeshing toothed gear wheels for the impression cylinder, design cylinder and color apparatus and link mechanism for bringing the various parts into contact only after they have been set in rotary motion so that the color applying roll, design cylinder and impression cylinder rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed. 1

19. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising a framework, an impression cylinder mounted upon said framework,

an auxiliary frame slidable horizontally upon the framework and carrying a design cylinder, a second frame slidable horizontally upon the auxiliary frame and carrying the color apparatus, intermeshing toothed gear wheels for the impression cylinder, design cylinder and color apparatus, a lever pivoted to the framework of the machine,

a link pivotally connected to said lever, a bell crank lever also pivoted to the frame and having one end connected to the pivoted link, and means for connecting the free end of the bell crank lever with the frames supapparatus.

20. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising a framework, an impression cylinder mounted upon said framework, an auxiliary frame slidable horizontally upon the framework and carrying a design cylinder, a second frame slidable horizontally upon the auxiliary frame and carrying the color apparatus, intermeshing toothed gear wheels for the impression cylinder, design cylinder and color apparatus, a lever pivoted to the framework of the machine, a link pivotally connected to said lever, a bell crank lever also pivoted to the frame and having one end connected to the pivoted link and adjustable rods connecting the free end of the bell crank lever with the frames supporting the design cylinder and the color apparatus.

21. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising a framework, an impression cylinder mounted upon said framework, an auxiliary frame slidable horizontally upon the framework and carrying a design cylinder, color apparatus comprising a single toucher for each design cylinder, a second frame slidable horizontally upon the auxiliary frame and carrying the color apparatus, intermeshing toothed gear wheels for the impression cylinder, design cylinder and toucher, and means for bringing the various parts into contact after they have been set in rotary motion so that the impression cylinder, design cylinder and toucher rotate at or approximately at the same peripheral speed.

22. Apparatus for printing lithographically comprising an impression cylinder, a plurality of superimposed design cylinders arranged to move in horizontal planes into and out of printing position relatively to the impression cylinder, color apparatus comprising a single toucher for each design cylinder, such color apparatus being also adapted to move in the horizontal direction to contact with its design cylinder, and means for setting the impression cylinders, design cylinders and touchers in rotary motion so that each impression cylinder with its corresponding designcylinder and toucher rotate at orapproximately at the same peripheral speed before they are brought into contact with one another.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. J. HAYES. 

